2024 – another successful year in review!
We would like to express our sincere thanks for your hard work and contribution to VGC in 2024!
Over the last 18 months we have been in a period of transition as we merged our ‘trades & labour’ and ‘professional & technical’ recruitment divisions into one recruitment business ‘VGC Recruitment’, providing clarity and simplicity in our recruitment offering. For clients needing recruitment support, or candidates looking for their next great career opportunity, VGC Recruitment provide tailored & bespoke recruitment solution for all levels. These changes will ensure that we continue to grow sustainably, safely and profitably ensuring continued opportunity for all at VGC.
Delivering this level of change in the company is challenging, however our teams continue to succeed every day, delighting clients, candidates & their colleagues. Here is just a handful of the numerous successes this year:
- VGC Recruitment has had a record year providing recruitment opportunities from the far north in Scotland to Plymouth in the south-west. We are working on over 75 projects with 23 clients and have recorded over 3.3 million working hours. We continue to support our clients on some of the largest and most complex infrastructure projects in the UK.
- We integrated our ‘trades & labour’ and ‘professional & technical’ teams in regional offices across the country ensuring that we offer an exceptional local recruitment solution on a national basis.
- Our Digital Transformation Team implemented ‘PUMP’ the new recruitment database and a monthly payroll platform.
- We were the first company in the UK to achieve the CHAS social sustainability accreditation as well as being awarded the FIR growth assessment level 4, Disability Confident Level 2 and the Ministry of Defence ERS silver award. These along with social value programmes delivered over £34m in social value (in line with government TOMs measurements). We were also successful in 17 audits with clients and industry bodies this year.
- Our finance, payroll and commercial teams continue to work closely to deliver continuous performance improvements.
- We received numerous awards including the New Civil Engineer’s Recruitment Solutions Partner of the Year and the Irish Post Business of the Year 2024, in addition to being shortlisted for many awards, including the Construction News Awards, and the Unseen Awards for our work on Modern Slavery Prevention.
- We continue to work together with our people and clients to ensure our workforce is kept as safe as possible. We have had a 44% increase in observation reporting and a 20% improvement in safety performance.
Within the wider group, VGC Projects has delivered challenging & complex works on the Piccadilly Line project and Cole Hire continues to provide an excellent level of customer services to both private and business clients within the vehicle rental markets.
Going Forward into 2025 we need to remain agile to adapt to the economic challenges in line with the new government, their fiscal and employment law changes and secure all infrastructure opportunities. We will continue to focus on excellence & efficiency in delivery, innovation, skills development, value for money, liquidity, digital transformation and the safety and wellbeing of our people.
Key deliverables for 2025 include:
- Continue to lead the way delivering expert and sustainable recruitment services ensuring we are the most ‘progressive, valued and trusted recruitment partner’.
- Continue to place the most skilled & competent people in great jobs with the best clients across the UK.
- Continue to invest in training and development for everyone & refresh VGC Academy programmes.
- Continue to recruit industry leading recruitment consultants and resourcers across the UK.
- Continue to ensure that safety and wellbeing of our people.
- Implement a new payroll system and digital improvements across our software platforms.
- Continue to explore new markets, territories, and opportunities.
We want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you for everything that you have done for both VGC and our clients throughout the year.
We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2025.
Kind regards
Sean Fitzpatrick Ciara Pryce Chris Ryan
Chairman COO Managing Director
